Apparatus for covering wire garment hangers



July 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON 3 APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. 5672 Bronson BY July 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GAR Filed June 26, 1956 MENT HANGERS ll Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. B??? 1 Hrovson W W/K fiiformgyg y 1959 B. J. ARONSON 2,896,383

APPARATUS FOR CQVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 26, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

567? J. P70775022 BY July 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON- 2,396,333

APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 A '11 Sheets-Sheet 4 A v P INVENTOR.

y 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON 2,896,383.

APPARATUSFOR comma WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 v 11 Shets-Sheet 5 I i VENTOR.

July 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON APPARATUS FOR covsarmc WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Fi1ed Jun e 26, 1956 11 SheetsSheet 6 INVENTOR. $3872 Ll. firoflsofl B. J. ARONSON APPARATUS FOR covxamc WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Fil ed June 26, 1956 July 28, 1959 11 SheetsSheet 7 IN VEN TOR.

n wm w Z a d MW July 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON 2,896,383

APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 a as IN VEN TOR. Ben J. fiwamson y 1959 B. J. ARONSON 2,896,383

APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 I N VE N TOR.

Ben LZHPoflson July 28 1959 B. J. ARONSON APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 11 Sheets-Sheet 1O INVENTOR. 867? J Hronsm BY 75 July 28, 1959 B. J. ARONSON 2,896,383

7 APPARATUS FOR COVERING WIRE GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 26, 1956 ll Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR. Ben J. Hronson W WWW United States T it 2 ,896,383 marines-rot coverings; WIRE GARMENT HANGERS lien J. Aronson, Skolrie, assignor, by niesne assignmer ts, to Arons on Hanger Govers, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 26, 1956, seams. 593,918 45 cram; (CI. 53-51 This invention 'relats'to Wrappingmachines; to a machine especially desigi'ied' for wrapping garment hangers; and to'amachine which automatically feeds a continuous supply of paper andhangerstoa plurality of wrapping stations, enfolds :and secures the hangers within covers formed from the paper, and collects the covered the wrapped hangers in bunches of predetermined number, the operation at the successive-folding stations being at different stages of progress in the machine, with all operations occurring concurrently:

Whilethecommon wire garment hanger is' produced to sell at a very low price, the practice has developedto covcr the hangers with paper Wrappers in order to protect the garments supported thereby against possible spots and stains from the rust formed on the hanger, and also to protect against the dirt and other foreign matter accumulating on the hanger during its manufacture andstorage. Along with the wide approval and acceptance covered hangers have received, the manufactui'e 'rsfandusers of covered Wire hangers have found thatthe cover' provides an excellent means for bringing printedladvrtising, to the attention of the public. Moreover, the paper cover. provides an additional convcnient surface to which some garments, which ordinarily would slip nan the'hanger, may be pinned or otherwise secured; Actually, covered wired hangers have receivd'such" widespread approval and used in the UnitedStates,that"of the approximately two billion wire hangersproducedan'd usedannually, over one-third have some form ofc'over.

Dspitejth'iswide fspreaddemand for covered hangers, nearly'all hangers hayetheir' covers mountedthereto by manual "pp'eratio'ni The most Widely accepted method is to cut thepaper blanks in a separate operation and thereafter form themint'o wrappers which are prepared to receivethe hangers. The prepared covers are then collected and, ina'n" independent separate operation which is usually manual, thehahgers are inserted into the wrappers which arthereafterseale'd. In any event, even while the wrapper cutting and forming operations may beaccornplished' by machinesdesigned for sudh purposes, no presently known machine performs all the neeessary operations' automatically.

Also to beconsid'ered is the fact that the cost of hand lab'ofhas pushed thefcost of'covere d wire hangers to aprohibitive price. Thus, the'dealer or cleaner who separately purehases' -the hang'ers and wrappers finds that he must alsd tenths additional cost of inserting. the hanger's int'othew'rappers.

Even those very few mowmmachifies whicliare capable of' enveloping a hanger in a pre-cut and" formed Wrapper have not met with any degree of acceptance, since their rates" of production fall far" short of what is needed to justify their use arid' cos't. At the present time, there is no suitablernachin'e available for auto matically feeding paper, cutting blanks theief'ronipdelivering hangers tothe' blanks an'ndwrappiiig and=securing the hangers withinthe blank's. i

In contrast, the present machine'peffor ns 1 the operations of cover forming, .cover gluing; hange'r'feed and enfolding, andhangcr delivery, all automatically, sequentially and continuously.

Accordingly, an object'of 'this inventionis to overcome the foregoing and other known" failings of equipment and methods for producing-covered wire garment hangers. i V

A principabobject of"'this"invention is to provide a novel machine adapted to'car'ry o'ut automatically-and continuously, work of the character specified.

Another object of this invention isto provide ajmachine capable of automatically cutting a covefshe'et' tram a web of paper, delivering ahanger tothe'cover sheet,

enfolding the hanger'within the'cover, anddelive'ring the wrapped hanger to a'pointof discharge, A Another object of this'invention' isto provide'amag chine for automatically withdrawing'pape'rfroma con:

tinuuous web thereof, cutting a cover sheet'f'ronithe paper so withdrawn, applying an adhesive'fto specific" areas of the cover sheet, delivering a liange'r to the'cdverfsheet, effectively, enfoldin'g= arid securing the hanger within the cover sheet, and thereafter delivering thecovered hanger to a discharge point,

Another objcct-of' this invention is top'rovid a machine having a plurality of movable stations, sequem tially towards which paper isdrawnfromi aicontinuous web thereof anddelivere'd totliejstationsin tiirie'drelation to-their travel, and further toprovide" meaasgror carrying paper on the stations; means for" cutting cover sheets from the paper as tlie stati ons move, meahsrer applying glue to the cover sheets,'"me'aris-for delivering hangers to the stationsdntimed relation'to their travel,

means for enwrappingthe'hang'ers withih tlieir cover sheets, and means for delivenng the wrapper; hangers in groups. j i i A further feature o f= thistihve'ntioii, of; course; is that when the machineis-in flill operationall operations occur substantially at the same time; namely, wh'ilca web of paper is being fed to onest'ationl' glue is being applied to a cover sheet carried by still another station, another stationand its cover shect are 'receiviiig'a hanger, on another station the hanger is being enivrapp'ed and secured in its cover sheet, While from another station a covered hanger is being: deposited a'ta'"firia1 hanger receiving point, whereby for each-cycleof"niachine'operation andstation travel the machine rapidly arid efiicieritly produces that number of covered hangers that there" cover sheets over" their respective hangers.

A specific object of this 'in ention is the provision of mechanism which is synchronized to deliver a con tinuous web of paper to the moving stations, and to further provide a novel vacuum system which holds the paper to the stations and has a unique means for selectively controlling the application of vacuum at each station.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel receiving station which carries its own means for retaining the hanger and the paper thereon, and further carries its own cutting mechanism for producing a hanger cover sheet of the desired size and shape, and its own mechanism for enwrapping and sealing the hanger within the cover sheet.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a glue applicator station capable of applying a glue to strategic areas of each hanger cover sheet as the sheet passes thereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide hanger feed mechanism synchronized to the travel of the stations and capable of delivering hangers, one to each station as each station passes thereby.

Another important object of thisinvention is to provide a novel control structure for regulating the folding of the cover sheets over their respective hangers in accordance with the travel of each station towards a point of hanger discharge.

And, a still further object of this invention is to provide hanger take-off structure juxtaposed to the path of travel of the stations and capable of gathering the covered hangers in groups of predetermined number.

And, a still further feature of this invention is to provide for accurately timing all operations of the machine in accordance with the various positions of the ditferent stations.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of construction will become more apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended drawing.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view showing the wrapping stations and a portion of the essential elements for carrying out this invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the paper feed and hanger take-off apparatus;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but showing the hanger feed apparatus;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1, other essential elements for carrying out the invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the support structure for the roll of paper;

Figure 6 is a view of the paper roll support structure, looking at it from the other side;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-'7 in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the paper feed pressure rollers;

Figure 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 in Figure Figure 11 is a perspective view of a platen assembly for lead ng the paper to the moving stations;

Figure 12 is a view looking directly at the face of one of the stations;

F gure 13 is a view taken on line 13--13 in Figure 12;

F gure 14 1s a view taken on line 14-44 in Figure 12; Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on line ll5l5 1n Figure 12; F gure 16 is a sectional view taken on line 1616 m Figure 12;

F1gure 17 is a sectional view taken on line 17-17 in Figure 12;

Figure 18 is a sectional Figure, 12;

Frgure 19 is a sectional view showing typical structure for mounting of the cutting edges to the face: of a statlon;

view taken on line 18-18 in Figure 20 is an enlarged side elevation view of the paper cutting station;

Figure 21 is a sectional view looking in the dlrectron of the arrows 2l2]l in Figure 20;

Figure 22 is an enlarged side elevation view of the glue applicator station, with certain parts removed for clarity;

Figure 23 is a view showing the drive connections to the glue applicator rollers, and means for connecting the same to an auxiliary drive;

Figure 24 is a view taken along line 2424, Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a view taken at the side opposite that shown in Figure 22, showing the interconnected drive for the glue fountain system; 7

Figure 26 is a view of the applicator roller for placing glue on the moving cover blanks;

Figure 27 is a plan view of a portion of the hanger feed mechanism, taken on line 2727 in Figure 3;

Figure 28 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the hanger support rod shown in Figure 3;

Figure 29 is a simplified view of the station support shaft, showing the vacuum connections;

Figure 30 is a view taken along line 3030 in Figure 29;

Figure 31 is a view taken along line 3131 in Figure 29;

Figure 32 is a sectional view taken on line 3232 in Figure 30;

Figure 33 is a sectional view taken along line 33-33 in Figure 30;

Figure 34 is a sectional view taken along line 3434 in Figure 31;

Figure 35 is a view looking towards the underside of a station; 7

Figure 36 is a perspective view of structure for holding the vacuum chamber of Figure 30 stationary;

Figure 37 is a perspective view of the operating handle for individually opening each station to the vacuum sytem;

Figure 38 is a view taken along line 3838 in Figure 2;

Figure 39 is a view of the main jackshaft; and

Figure 40 is a view of a cut cover blank.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the hanger wrapping apparatus generally comprises a paper feed mechanism A, folding stations B, paper cutter mechanism C, glue ap plicator station D, hanger feed station E, folding actua- I tor apparatus F, hanger take-off station G, and a vacuum system (shown in detail in the various figures).

Briefiy, the operation of the machine is as follows: the paper is fed from the paper feed mechanism A towards the folding stations B in timed relation with the travel of the folding stations. After being drawn and firmly held to a station B, by the vacuum system, the paper travels with the folding station B past cutter mechanism C, where, while being severed from its web, the paper is cut into the desired shaped cover blank. Travel of the cover blank with its station E continues pastv gluing station D where glue is strategically applied to certain portions of the blank. As station B and the cover blank travel past the hanger feed station E, a hanger is fed theretoin time relation to the travel of the station, after which the folding actuator apparatus and controls the folding of the blank over the hanger as the travel of the station continues toward hanger take-off G, where. the completed or wrapped hangers are gathered. It is to be understood, of course, that more than one folding station is employed, that the herein described machine employs ten folding stations, since this number has been. found adequate to meet most needs, but that any number of folding stations may be employed without departing from the the spirit of the invention.

Travel of the folding stations B is continuous; and, I

hence, operation on the various hangers and cover blanks 1s concurrent, although the operation is at various stages of progress in the machine. Moreover, successive feeds of the paper and the hangers at the respective stations is in time relation to the travel of the folding stations.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, it will be seen that the machine is mounted on a frame bed or support comprising front, back, and two side beam members, 51, 52, 53, and 54 respectively. The frame is completed by suitable cross beams to give it rigidity and to support the various members, as explained hereinafter.

Paper feed drive motor 55 rests on the frame bed, being coupled to the paper feed drive by means of sprocket 56 and chain 57. A principal drive. motor 58, also mounted on the frame bed, is provided to supply driving power to the remainder of the machine, as explained hereinafter, through jack-shaft 59 and sprocket and chain assembly 60, 61. For convenience and simplicity in understanding the functioning of the machine and the nature and advantages of the invention, the portions of themachine will be divided into the assemblies as hereinbefore designated: the paper feed mechanism A, the folding station E, the cutter mechanism C, the glue applicator station D, the hanger feed station E, the folding actuator apparatus F, the hanger take-off station G, the vacuum system; and the various over-all synchronization of the various assemblies and their joint mode of operation thereupon will be readily understood.

The paper feed mechanism Referring to Figures 2, and 5 to 10, mounted on cross pieces 53, 62, of the frame bed are four support pillars 63, 64, 65, and 66, which are paired together by cross arms 67, 68. Spanningithe cross arms 67, 68, is a paper roll support shaft 69, which is square at one end 70, and round and threaded at the other end 71. Fixed to cross arm 68 is a block 72 havinga side block 73 aifixed thereto and a removable side block 74 held inposition on the other side of shaft 69 by a removable pin 75 which extends through block 74 and into cross-arm 68. A housing 76, thus is formed by the four blocks for receiving the square end 70 of shaft 69. Relative positioning of shaft 69 totrue up the paper feed is achieved by positioning screws 77, 78, which are threaded into blocks 73, 74, respectively, and are engageable with shaft end 70: Shaft removal atxits square end, of course, is achieved by merely removing pin 75 and side block 74.

At its threaded end 71, shaft 69 is supported by an L-shaped block 79 which is fixed to cross arm 67. A smaller L-shaped block 80, pivoted to block 79 at 81, provides a housing 82 for shaft end 71. Positioning of end71 into and out of housing 82 is achieved by pivoting block 80 from block 79 as required.

Fixed to shaft 69 adjacent its square end is a disk shaped. plate 83' which cooperates with another disk shaped plate 84 toposition a roll of paper 85 therebetween. A handle 86, fixed to plate 84 and threaded on shaft 69, controls the. position of plate 84. The plates 83, 84, by pressing roll 85 therebetween, thus further are able to serve as a breaking arrangement to prevent the roll of paper 85, which is freely rotatable on shaft 69, fromunwinding uncontrollably. Threaded to the extreme end of shaft '69isa cylindrical member 87 having ahandle88 and a grooved portion 89 for receivingthe upper'edge. of-L-shaped block 79 which thus serves as a trackfor member 87. As is obvious, turning of handle 88 positions the shaft 69 axially, since'cylindn'cal member 87 is maintained in position by the edge of the L shaped block 79.

Mounted'on cross pieces 90, 91 of the frame bed are four legs, 92, 93, 9d, and 95, which'support pressure feed rollers96, 97, whichpull the-paper from its roll.

A rectangular shaped frame 98- is joined to'the top of the fourlegs. Roller 96, at each end, is supported by a rotatable shaft 99 held in bearing blocks 100-100 which are held between legs 101 -101; Bearing blocks 100-*-100 are fixed to .top frame 98;

Bearing blocks is 102- 102, each having. fingers 103103, whichstraddle the legs 101, are provided to support rotatable shaft 104 which holds pressure-roller 97. A cross-member 105' is provided atop each pair oflegs 101--101, and each to threadingly receive a sprocket Wheel 109. The left hand sprocket WhECl shown in Figure 9- has a handle 1-10 connected therewith to control its position. Immediately below each sprocket wheel 109 and fixed thereto is a threaded bolt 11 adapted to engage surface 108 as handle 1110 is turned to move the sprocket wheel 109. Anchored around each shaft 107 and between bearing block 102 and cylinder 106 is a compression spring 1112. Turning of cylinder of 106, of course, correspondingly varies the pressure at the respective end' of roller 9'7, and hence, varies the pressure between roller 96 and '97.

Each end of roller 97. has the same structure for adjustability, with the exception that only. the left hand side, as seen in Figure 9, has a handle 110 attached to its sprocket wheel 109. A sprocket chain 1:13 int;erconnects the sprocket wheels 100. .Thus, the ends of pressure roller 97 may be selectively adjusted for pressure by turning the respective cylinders 106, or both ends may be simultaneously adjusted by turning handle 110.

Interrneshing gears 114, 115, are provided atthe ends of shaft 99, 104, respectively. Power to the pressurerollers is applied. through a gear '116keyed. to shaft 99-,- and linked to drive motor 55 by chain 57. Paper is always fed from pressure rollers 96, 97, at such rate as to provide a loop 117 for supplying slaehpaper which is available at all times for feed to the folding stations; As a result, there is no undue stress on the paper in this area.

A paper brake assembly, generally indicated at L18 in Figure 2, is provided to control the feedof the paper to the folding stations. The brake table 1-19 at each side is mounted on vertical legs 120, 121, which are fixedto suitable cross pieces 122, 123 of the frame bed. Side plates 124, on the table, guide the paper thereover. A brake bar 125, mounted above the paper guidevvay; is held in position by a cross piece 126 which straddlesthe guideway and is attached to each side of the table by'an' arm 127 pivoted to the table side. A solenoid 128', mounted on a cross arm 129 standing above the paper guideway, has a spring biased plunger 131] attached to the cross piece 127 for moving paper brake bar 125' intoand from engagement with the paper. Synchronization of the energization of solenoid 128 with the demand for paper atvthe folding station is more fully explained hereinafter.

An arm 131 is pivotally mounted to each table leg at 132, and between the arms 131 there is mounted a roller 133. Paper travel is from loop 117, under roller 133, to table 1 19. One of the arms 1 31 as it rotates counter-clockwise, as seen in Figure 2, isengageable with a switch l-34'to close an electrical circuit which energizes drive motor 55;

As paper is pulled over table 119, paper loop 117 is. expanded, and arms 131 are lifted counter-clockwise by the paper to close switch 134, whereby more paper is again fedto loop1 17 until-the arms 131' are allowedto return to the position shown in Figure 2.

The path of paper travel from table 119 towards the holdingstations include a paper feed platen assembly,

137, approximately at the same elevation as table 119,

and over which the paper travels. Platen 136 further has openings 138 over the entirety of its flat surface portion so as to release any possible vacuum created as the paper is fed to the stations. Mounted on and across the back side of the platen are tWo U-shaped cross members 139, 140, each of which holds a wheel 141 at each of its respective ends. The wheels 141 are engageable with a continuous track, hereinafter described, to limit the travel of platen 136 towards the folding stations. Also fixed to and across the back side of platen 136 a third U-shaped cross member 142, the legs 143 of which hold circular rod 144. Pivotally mounted at each end of rod 144 is an arm 145, and rod 146, spanning across the arms 145, is held at the outer ends thereof. Angle brackets 147147 fixed to cutter mechanism frame work, hereinafter described, pivotally hold the ends of rod 146 therebetween. Fixed to each arm 145, there is a projecting piece 148, which has at its outer most end a stud 149. Also welded to the cutter mechanism frame work are a pair of members 15015t on each of which at the outer ends thereof there is a stud 151. Tension springs 152- 152 are mounted between the pairs of juxtaposed studs 149, 151, so that a force is always provided to turn or urge the platen 136 towards the folding stations.

As best seen in Figure 1, the platen wheels 141 ride over the continuous track 153 carried by the folding stations. As the stations rotate clock-wise the wheels are urged into engagement with tracks 153 by the action of springs 152152. This locates the platen 136 in close juxtaposition to the successive folding stations passing thereby and consequently positions the paper close to each folding station, which through the operation of its vacuum ports, then grabs the paper to pull it along. As is obvious from an inspection of Figure l, platen 136 is closest to a passing folding station when the station is at approximately the same elevation as the platen. Shortly after this time the vacuum system takes over to pull the paper to the passing folding station.

It is understood, of course, that during the period that the continuous web of paper is pulled, solenoid 128 is de energized. Also, as best seen in Figure l, the folding station presently at the paper feed platen assembly 135 will pass the cutter mechanism C and thus form and sever the desired blank from the web of paper before the next successive folding station reaches assembly 135. Once a blank is severed from the web of paper, while the blank continues its travel with the holding station whereto it is held by the vacuum system, the continuous web of paper experiences no pulling or feed action until the next successive folding station picks it up at platen 136. Dur- 7 ing the period when the strip is not attached to any folding The folding stations Referring to Figures 1, 4, and 29, it is seen that the folding stations B are mounted at the rim 154 of a large wheel 155 having spokes 156 which interconnect rim s to the wheel hub 157. Hub 157 is keyed to a rotatable shaft 158, each end of which is journaled in a pillow block 159 affixed to the upper edge of an inverter V-shaped frame 166 which is suitably attached to the frame bed members.

Figures 1 and 4 show ten folding stations mounted to the Wheel rim 154. However, any desired number of stations can be provided, depending upon the diameter of rim 154 and the rate of production that is required. It is understood of course that the folding stations are all similar, and that therefore a description of one station is applicable to all stations.

Referring to Figures 12-19, the folding station comprises a main casting 161 having a generally flat surface 8 162 and a slightly elevated flat portion 163, generally shaped to approximate the shape of the hanger to be wrapped. Side plates 164, 165, are provided on the sides of casting 161. Adjacent each corner of the face of casting 161, there is an integral upwardly standing leg 166 having a threaded hole 167 for receiving a bolt to mount a track section 153a at each side of the casting. Each track section 153a at its ends has a curved portion 168 which is cut out at 169 to meet adjacent track sections of adjacent folding stations so as to present a continuous track 153, as seen in Figure l. The individual tracks 153a are affixed together by means of a bolt which is drawn through the paired holes 170 of abutting sections.

Mounted too the face of casting 161, is a triangular shaped folder flap 1'71, approximately similar in shape to casting elevated portion 163, but inverted in position thereto. As flap 171 is rotated about an axis in the area in which it forms a common border with elevated portion 163, it is brought into a position where its edges generally coincide with the edges of elevated portion 163. At each of the opposed end of the base of triangular shaped flap 171, a hollow shaft 172 is attached, and each shaft 172 is journaled in a respective bearing block 173 fixed to the face of casting 161. One of the shafts 172, as seen in Figures 12 and 13, has a gear 174 keyed thereto for rotating flap 1'71. Each hollow shaft 172 at its outer end carries a freely pivotal nozzle 175 for evacuating the vacuum chamber 176 which is located along the. outer edges of flap 171. Along the face of flap 171, a series of openings 177 are provided for leading into chamber 176.

Casting elevated portion 163, along its outer edges, also is provided'with a series of openings 178 which lead to a vacuum chamber 179. At the rear of casting 161, a nozzle 181i is attached for evacuating chamber 179.

Adjacent to the outer edges of flap 171, when it is in the position shown in Figure 12, a V-shaped knife edge 181 is provided, being heid to an angle shaped mount 182 attached to the face 162 of casting 161. Similarly, a t -shaped knife edge 183 is held adjacent to the edge of casting elevated portion 163 by an angle shaped mount 184 attached to casting face 162. Each of the knife edges 181, 183, has sufiicient span to straddle entirely across the face of the paper fed to the station, so that cutting of the blank by the knife edges completely severs the blank from the continuous strip of paper.

Figure 19 shows typical structure for mounting the knife edges to the casting face 162. Paired openings 185, 166, are provided in casting 161 along the area where the knives are to be mounted. Each opening 185 is threaded for receiving a screw 187 drawn through the base 188 of the knife mounting bracket. In each opening 186, a compression spring 189 is provided. The spring is engageable with the leading edge of a set screw 190 which is threaded through a threaded opening 191 in bracket base 188. While the spring 189 tends to urge the bracket and knife edge upwardly, this movement is limited by the head 192 of screw 187. By turning set screw 190, the force of spring 189 can be correspondingly varied.

As best seen in Figures 12 and 16, a pair of pivoted folder flaps 193193 are mounted between a portion of knife edge 183 and the edge of elevated portion 163. Each folder flap 193 is pivoted to elevated portions 163 by means of bars 194, 195, which extend respectively into projections 196, 197. Mounted on a shaft 198, extending through casting side plate 165 is a gear 199. Shaft 198 extends beneath casting 161 and at the casting center portion has an arm 200 locked thereto. .At its other end arm 200 carries a transverse rod 201 fixed thereto. At each end of rod 201 there is fixed a member 202. To each member 202 there is attached appropriate linkage 203, 204, which are connected together by a turnbuckle 205 which allows linkage adjustment. Each link 294 is attached to a respective one of the folder flaps 193. As gear 199 is turned, it turns rod 198 which 9. causes arm 200 to pivot. As the arm 200; pivots, it causes movement of the folder flaps 193-193 through the movement of therod 201 and'the linkages 204, 205. Opening, 206 in casting face 162 provides access for adjustment of the linkage f for folder flaps 193-193.

will become more apparent hereinafter, the folders 171, 193-193, accomplish three results. They act to correctly position ahanger on .the station, fold cover blank areas over the hanger sides, and press the. folded areas to areas of glue on the cover blank to secure the cover on thehangcri Q As seen in Figures 16 and 17, the faces of flap 171 and casting elevated portion 163, respectively are covered with layers 207, 208 of rubber. The purpose of the rubber is to allow a certain amount of. pressure of the paper cover over the hanger structure as the flaps are folded.

Each station further carriesa pair of permanent magnets, 208a-208amounted to casting 161, while each flap 171 carries a permanent magnet 20812. The purpose of the magnets is to retain a hanger on to the station, as explained hereinafter.

Paper cutter mechanism As. the paper is drawn to a folding station by the vacuum system, it still is connected to the paper supply roll. Travel of the stations to the stations, however, brings the papercarried thereby to cutter mechanism C where a blank is cut in the shape outlined by knives 1'81, 183, and. the paper sideedgesor web.

Referring to Figures 1, 20, and 21, the cutter mechanism is mounted on legs 209 weldedto a cross-piece 210 of the frame bed. Legs welded to the frame bed provide additional support and rigidity to the cutter mecha nism. A cutter roller frame 211 is fixed to legs 209 and held at an angle to the horizontal. The roller frame includes paired guide rails 212-212 at each end of the cutter pressure roller 213, and a bottom plate 214, welded to legs 209 and from which the paired guide rails 212-212 extend. A bearing block 215 is mounted between each pair of guide rails, andv each bearing block 215 has fingers 216-216 which straddle the edges of the rails for guidance. A rotatable shaft 217 ismounted in, the bearing blocks, extending therebetween, to support a cutter pressure roller 213 which is keyed to the shaft 217. Roller 213 preferably is. made of chrome plated steel and is of such diameter as to engage the knife edges 181, 183, as they pass thereby.

Eachbearing block 215 is maintained in its upper position by. a screw 218, threadable through a threaded opening, 219, in: plate 214, having a handle 220 at its outen end;to facilitate turning, and further carries a support plate 221 and stub 222 against which a coiledcompression spring 223 is anchored. Threading of screw 2 18 intoplate. 214 compresses spring 223, which at its other end is anchored againsta respective bearing 215. Thus, the bearings are maintained in position by their respectivecompression springs, and, in turn, retain roller 2l3 in an extended position. Of course, each screw 218 allows individual adjustment of the position of the respective ends of cutter pressure roller 213 so that there will beproper pressure along the entire length of knife edges 181, 183, as they engage roller 213.

Between each end of roller 213 and the bearing block adjacent thereto, there is a roller 224. The rollers 224 are so located on shaft 217 and are of such diameter as to engage a respective continuous. track 153 carried by the folding stations. The cooperation of, the rollers 224 with the tracks 153 serves to counter-act or limit the efiectofthe pressure of the knife edges 181, 183, against roller 213.

Travel of the folding stationpast cutter mechanism C causes the; cooperating knives 181, 183, and rollers 213 to form the cover blank 225 shown in Figure 40.

angle brackets 147 being welded thereto. for this purpose.

The cover blank 225, as seen in Figure 40, is in the form of two triangular shaped body portions 225a, 225b, joined at their bases. The legs of each triangle approximate the position of the shoulder bars. of the hanger to be covered. Two narrow foldable covering portions or flaps 2250, 225d, are provided, one on each leg of triangle 225b, for folding over the hanger shoulder bars to hold the cover in place.

The glue applicator station From the cutter mechanism, the folding station carries its blank to the glue applicator station D where glue is applied to the shaded portions of the blank shown in Figure 40. Operation and design of the glue applicator apparatus is so synchronized with the travel and shape of the blank 225 that no other area on the blank but the shaded portion shown in Figure 40 has glue applied thereon.

As seen. in Figures 2 and 22 to 26, the. gluing apparatus comprises. a compartment 231 having a glue pot 232 to hold the liquifi'ed glue. The bottom. 233 of glue pot 232 is slightly V-shaped so that, its lower most portion 234 has an outlet 2:35, for draining purposes. Filling; of glue pot 232 is accomplished through inlet pipe 236.

The glue fountain system is asfollo'ws. A first lower most roller 237, having its axis above the lower most tub portion 234, is supported on a rotatable shaft 238 which extends between. and is rotatably mounted onthe sides of compartment 23.1; A second roller 239, positioned parallel to and above roller 237 so that the surfaces ofthe, rollers nearly touch, is supported on a retatable shaft 240 held between inverted substantially V-shaped supports 241, each. of which has one leg. 242 pivoted at 243 to a respective pillar 244 which extends from the frame bed. The other leg 245 of each support 241has an extension 246 having an, opening 247 through which bolt 248 is threaded for abutting engagement with an upper structural piece 249 of compartment. 231. By turning bolt,248,,support 240 correspondingly pivots to thus vary the distance between. rollers 237, 239. Asa result, the amount of glue fed from roller 237- to roller 239 can becontrolled.

A third roller 250, supported on rotatable shaft 251, picks up the glue from roller 239 by means of spiral pads 252, 253, 254, and 255. Pads 252 and253', are so mounted on roller 400 that they will apply glue only to the areas 256 and 257 of cover blank 225, while pad 254 and 255 apply. glueto cover blankareas 258 and 259, as the folding stations pass thereby.

Shaft 251 at eachend is supported in a bearing block 260 held in between guide arms 261-261 of lever 262. Each arm lever 262 atits center portion is rotatably supportedon shaft 240. Each bearing block 260, is posi tionable in the slot 263 inarm 262by a shaft. 264 attachedtto the bearing. block and threadable in end plate 265 mounted on the end of arm 262. A knurled knob 266 is provided at the endof. shaft 264 to facilitate its turning. A compression spring, 267 is anchored about each shaft 264 and between plate 265 and each bearing block for urging, roller 250 and its, glue pads. towards the moving. stations.

The pivotal arms 262 at their respective ends remote from compartment 231 are interconnected by ashaft 268. From shaft 268 and adjacent to each arm 262; a tension spring 269 extendsto the frame hed; Also, at each arm 262, a link 270, having a forkedend -27,1' engaging shaft 269, extends downwardly. Each link 270 11 is pivotally connected at272 to a second link 273 keyed to shaft 274 which is rotatably supported at its ends in blocks 275 fixed to the frame bed. One end of shaft 274 has a handle 276 fixed thereto to facilitate turning, and stops 277, 278, extending transversely from handle 276 and engageable with the frame bed member 51, limit rotation of shaft 274. As handle 276 is rotated counterclockwise from its position shown in Figure 22, it correspondingly turns shaft 274- and link 273. This causes links 270, 273 to become aligned, and rotates the arms 262 clockwise to move the glue pads from a position where they can contact the stations. Return of handle 276 to its original position shown in Figure 22, of course, moves the pads to an operable position.

Since, when the apparatus is first being started, no cover blanks are carried by the moving stations, it is advantageous to remove the glue pads on roller 253 from the position where they can contact the stations. Hence, handle 276 is turned counterclockwise, and the glue applicator apparatus is made inoperable until the station first carrying a cover blank nears the gluing apparatus, at which time handle 276 is turned to the position shown in Figure 22, at which time the springs 269 act to urge the pads into contact with the moving cover blanks.

Within glue pot 232, a water pipe 279 is provided. Pipe 279 has spaced outlets 280 which distribute water in the glue pot to facilitate its cleaning. The cleansing water can be drained through outlet 235, which, of course, has a suitable plug for closing.

Referring to Figures 23 to 26, power to turn the glue applicator rollers is supplied through a sprocket wheel 281 on shaft 240 and driven by chain 232 which is connected to main jackshaft 59. As shaft 240 turns, it transmits power through gear 233 to gears 284 and 285, respectively on roller shafts 238 and 251.

Since the apparatus may be stopped at times while there is glue in glue pot 232, it is advantageous to provide auxiliary means for turning the glue fountain rollers in order to prevent hardening or setting of the glue. However, while an auxiliary drive turns the rollers, it is necessary to uncouple sprocket 231 from the main jackshaft 59.

To achieve this, sprocket wheel 231 is not keyed to shaft 240, but is slidably and rotatably mounted thereon. Adjacent to wheel 281, a cylinder 286, fixed to shaft 240, is provided. A stub 287 extends from wheel 281 and is engageable in a mating aperture 283 in the end of cylinder 286 adjacent thereto. Similarly, a second sprocket wheel 289 is slidably and rotatably mounted on shaft 240. Sprocket wheel 239 is connected to an auxiliary drive motor 299, best shown in Figure 3, by a chain 291 and sprocket wheel 292 on the motor drive shaft. A stub 293 projects outwardly from wheel 289 towards the other end of cylinder 286, which has a mating opening 294 wherein the stub 293 is engageable.

Locking of the respective sprocket wheels 281, 289, to cylinder 236 is achieved by a shift arrangement including an axially movable bar 295, mounted in brackets 296 and having a handle 297 at its outer end. Fixed to bar 295 are two arms 298, 299, each of which carry a structure 3% having a semicircular cutout portion 391 at its uppermost end. Each sprocket wheel 281, 289, further has a cylinder 3G2 fixed thereto for slidable and rotatable movement on shaft 2%. Each cylinder 302 has a groove 333 in which ride fingers 3043tl4 resulting from the cutout portions 301. As bar 295 is shifted axially, it selectively positions the wheels 231, 289, to connect shaft 240 either to jackshaft 59 or auxiliary motor 290. In either event, only one of the sprocket wheels 281, 239 can be locked to shaft 240 at a time, thus assuring that the separate glue applicator drives will not be affected by each other.

Only one stub 237 is provided on sprocket wheel 281, and only one mating opening 288 is provided in cylinder 12 286. Thus, while shaft 240 may be disconnected from the auxiliary drive at a point where stub 287 does not meet opening 283, the alignment of stub 287 and opening must be achieved before shaft 240 is connected to jackshaft 59. The necessity of achieving this alignment assures that the roller 250 and its gluing pads always will be synchronized to the travel of the moving stations.

Figure 26 shows the position of the gluing pads on the roller. If the pads were unwound to a flat surface, they would approximate the shaded areas of the cover blank 225 shown in Figure 40. Also seen in Figure 26 are a pair of rollers 305-305 mounted adjacent the ends of shaft 251. Rollers 305305 are engageable with the tracks 153 carried by the moving stations to thus limit the movement of the pads against the stations.

Hanger feed mechanism From the glue applicator station, the moving stations travel towards the hanger feed mechanism which supplies hangers, one to each station, and in timed relation to the travel thereof. All operations are continuous and synchronized to set a hanger on each station in preparation for the folding operations which immediately follow.

Referring to Figures 3, 27, and 28, the hanger feed mechanism is supported on the frame bed by legs 306, 30. and 338. A rod 399, driven by gear 310 through coupling 31]., is rotatably mounted on a standard 312 and at an angle whereby it is inclined downwardly, starting at its back end. The diameter of rod 309 is such as to accommodate the hook portion of the hangers 313 and to feed them downwardly with the aid of gravity as the rod turns. At its forward end rod 399 has a screw feed portion 314 which acts to meter the hangers 313 supported thereby one for each rod revolution. From the screw feed the hangers travel down a conically shaped surface 313 to rod 3116, while the hanger lower portions travel between guide rod structures 317-317 which prevent hanger lateral movement. Rod 316 extends into the open end 313 of conical surface 315 to further provide the front support for rotatable rod 309. As the hangers move down rod 309, their lower portions are engaged by an endless conveyer 319.

The endless conveyer 319 comprises a pair of sprocket chains 32tl-32tl which follow a path of travel around sprocket Wheels 321, 322, 323, 324, and large sprocket wheel 325. Extending between chains 32t)320 and carried thereby are alternately arranged rods 326 and 327. Each rod 326 carries a pair of permanent magnets 328328 adjacent each of its ends, while each rod 327 carries paired permanent magnets 329329. As each hanger travels through screw feed portion 314, the travel of chains 320-320 is so timed as to have a rod 326 and the magnets carried thereby engage the lower bar of the hangers to push the hangers down rod 316 and then up an incline portion 330 of rod 316. Rod 316 is held by a hook 331 suspended from plate 332 held by cross piece 333 extending between legs 3tl73il7. While the hanger hook portions follow the'path prescribed by rods 369 and 316, the hanger lower bar portions are pushed by rods 326 and their magnets along a path prescribed by large sprocket wheel 325 and sprocket wheel 321. When the hanger hook portions reach the end of rod 316,'they slide off and are immediately engaged by the magnets 329-329 carried by the alternate rods 327. The hanger shoulder portions rest on and are carried by the magnets 329329, thus allowing the hanger to slide relative to the rods 327 as their lower bars are picked up by the moving stations, as explained hereinafter.

Between sprocket wheels 1321, and 322, the hanger travels in a near horizontal position and direction towards a stripper plate 334. As the rods 326 are carried around sprocket Wheel 322 for their return flight, they deliver their hangers onto stripper plate 334, whereafter the magnets 323-328 pass through the stripper plate slots 335-335 while the hanger lower bars remain in the plate. As a hanger lower bar rests on plate 334, it is aeoeaes pushed forward by the travel of conveyer bar 327 and into a position where it can be picked up by the magnets Mitre-208a carried by a station passing thereby. It is understood, of course, that the travel of each station and the travel of the hangers on conveyer 319 are so timed that each station reaches a position where its magnets 208a-208a will engage the lower bar of a hanger at the moment the hanger lower bar extends beyond strip plate 334.

As the hanger lower bar is attracted by the magnets 208a-208'a and begins its travel with the station, the hanger shoulder portion, whichcontinues to rest on the magnets 329-4529, may experience a small amount of movement relative to bar 327 due to the fact that the travel of the lower bar on the station causes the hanger to be swung in an arc about the magnets 329-329. However, the shoulder portion continues to travel on the magnets 329-329 until the magnets pass through stripper plate slot 335 to free the hanger from conveyor 319. The hanger thereafter swings about anaxis described by magnets 268a-20l5a until it comes to rest on casting elevated portion 163. To assure that the hanger rests securely on the station, a fourth magnet 2080 is provided at a position Where it will attract the hanger. neck. Actually, magnet 2080 never touches the hanger neck, since the magnet is covered by rubber, but is sufficiently strong to bring the swinging hanger to a standstill. Thereafter, the hanger travels on the cut cover blank and with its station, being held thereto inan upside down position, its leading edge being what is normally the hanger lower bar portion.

Folding actuator apparatus Once the hanger 313' is firmly held in position on the folding station, the folding actuator apparatus takes over to control the operation of the folders 171, 193-193. The folding operationtakcs place as the station continues its travel, and is so timed that the hanger 313 isWrapped and secured within its cover 225 by the time the station reaches the hanger point of discharge.

Referring to Figure 4, a pair of plates 337, 333 are mounted one on each side of wheel 155, each plate having a respective cam surface 339, 344). The surface 3400f plate 338 extends approximately half the distance of surface 339. Mounted on crosspieces of the frame bed are three legs 341, 342, 34-3, which support plate 337. Each of the legs is connected to plate 337 by means of a similar bolt and nut arrangement 344 which extends through the leg and an ,arcuate slot 345 in the plate. A similar arrangement (not shown) supports plate 338. The slots 345 allow adjustable positioning of the plates to synchronize the operation of the folderflaps 171, 193-193.

Referring back to Figures 12-14, each station carries a rotatable gear 346 which meshes with gear 199. An arm 347, lock to gear 346 to control the rotation thereof, carries a cam follower roller 348 at its outermost end. A tension spring 349 extends between projecting member 350, fixed to side plate 165, and arm 347to maintain roller 343 in a position whereit is engageable with cam surface 349 as the roller passes thereby. Thus, as roller 343 follows the contour of surface 340 it controls the position of flaps 193-193.

As seen in Figure 13, each station further carries a rotatable gear 351 which meshes with gear 174. Fixed t gear 351 is an arm 352 whichcontrols rotation thereof by means of a cam follower roller 353 which is engageable with cam surface 339. A tension-spring 354 extends between arm 352 and a projecting piece 355, attached to side plate 164, to maintain roller 353 in position to engage cam surface 339. As roller 353 travels over surface339, it turns gear 351 to rotate folder 171.

Cam surface 339 extends in an arc which approximates 180 degrees. Each end of surface 339 allows folder 171 tobe positioned in a fully open position. As wheel 155 14 rotates clockwise, as seen in Figure 4, from the time roller 353' first hits surface 339 to a point where" the wheel has turned approximately degrees, folderlll is moved fromfully opcued position to fully closed position; Thereafter folder 171 is again moved to its fully opened position; M

Each end of cam surface 340 controls the movement of folders 193-l93to fully open position. Surface3 iti is so shaped, however, as torotate the folders 193'-193 from fully open position to close position and back to open position before folder 171 reaches its fully closed position. Thus, the trailing edge 228 of the cover blank 225 is folded over the hanger shoulder portions and sealed against glue areas 258', 259, in readiness to receive the cover blank area which is folded by folder 171 As folder 173i finally reaches its fully closedposition, it presses the glue'areas 257 and 258 moved thereby into engagement with the already folded portion of the blank which enfolds the hanger shoulder portions, to thus secure the hanger 313 in its wrapper. The resilient rubber layers 207, 208 on the faces of folder 171 and casting elevated portion 163, respectively, experience a degree of compression by the action of folders 171 and 183-133 during the folding operation to assure that an effective grip is secured by thecove'r blank glue areas.

The vacuum system A vacuum is applied to each station from the time the station passes a point slightly before the cutter apparatus until the station passes the point where the large folder 171 starts its rotation back to its fully open position. At the latter point, the vacuum must be removed so that, asthe folder 171 returns to its open position, its magnet with may swing the wrapped hanger away from casting elevated portion 163' and to a position where the hanger hook may be engaged at the point of discharge, as explained hereinafter. Thus, there must not be any vacuum to hold the hanger cover to elevated portion 163; With no vacuum applied, the paper is not torn or removed from the hanger it enfolds by the return movement of folder 171. Since magnet 2055b must pick the hanger and turn it about an axis described by magnets 2osa 20sa, its force must be greater than that of magnet 2080. This is assured by coveringmagnet ZiiSc with a rubber cap which thus spaces the neck of the hanger from the magnet and reduces its effective force. While the vacuum is removed from the station, still the hanger is held securely on the station by magnets 2(l3a-2il8a, and 2080.

Referring to Figures29 to 34, the hub 157 of wheel is provided with ten similar but non-interconnected openings 355a, or one opening. for each station. Each opening 355a is connected to a related station, as explained hereinafter. Mounted for rotation with hub 157, and pressed thereagainst to affect an air tight seal between it and the hub end, is a vacuum distributor plate 356 having ten similar openings 357 in its face 358 and extending therethrough. Each opening358 is connected to a corresponding hub opening 355a by an appropriate duct 359 extending parallel to the hub axis. A vacuum chamber cylinder 360 is mounted on shaft 158 and against the face 358 of plate 336. The central opening 361 of cylinder 360, however, is of such diameter as to allow relative rotation between cylinder 360 and shaft 158. An arm 362 is fixed to cylinder 360 atone end, and at its other endit is fixed to a support leg, thereby maintaining thevacuum cylinder stationary as plate 356 and shaft 158 turn.

Referring in particular to Figures 30, 32, and 33', cylinder 360 at its face 363 has a small vacuum chamber 364 extending along an arc of approximately 30 degrees. A second vacuum chamber 365 extends along an arc approximating 210 degrees. The holes 357 in plate 356 are so located therein so as to move along an area of arc encompassing vacuum chambers 364 and 365, to thus provide access whereby the vacuum system is connected to the various folding stations.

The space 366 between vacuum chambers 364, 365, is smaller than the diameter of any hole 357, thereby assuring that a hole 357 passes from in front of chamber 364 to chamber 365, a continual vacuum connection is made to the respective folding station.

Referring to Figure 15, it is seen that chamber 364 starts at a point approximating 30 degrees from the horizontal. This corresponds to a point slightly before the folding stations are fully before the paper cutter mechanism. Thus, vacuum is fully applied to each station by the time the station is directly before the cutter roller, since each plate hole 357, as it passes before chamber 364, connects its respective station to the vacuum system substantially at the same as the station is traveling before the cutter roller assembly.

Two vacuum chambers are used in cylinder 360 for the following reason. It is obvious that as hole 357 and its station reach the point where they respectively connect to the vacuum system and pick up the paper, other stations have preceded them and already have vacuum applied thereto to carry their respective paper cover blanks. To assure that a sufiicient vacuum is initially applied to a station, the vacuum chamber 364 is connected through opening 367 and hose 368 to a separate vacuum pump 369 (Figure 3). Only one station at a time is evacuated by chamber 364 and pump 369. V acuum chamber 365, on the other hand, applies a vacuum to as many as six stations at a time. Evacuation of chamber 365 is accomplished through opening 376 which is connected by flexible hose 371 to a vacuum pump 372. The independent vacuum pumps 369, 372, however, employ a common drive motor 373.

The upper end 374 of vacuum chamber 365 coincides to the point where folder 171 starts its return movement to fully open position. Thus, the vacuum to each sta tion is shut olf as its respective plate hole 357 passes chamber end 374. This frees the cover from elevated portion 163 and allows magnet on folder 171 to pivot the covered hanger as the folder returns to open position.

As further seen in Figure 30, a pair of oil duct openings 375, 376, are provided in cylinder 360. Duct 375 lubricates the surfaces between shaft 153 and the inner surface of cylinder 360 opening 361. Duct 376 leads to the face 363 of cylinder 360 to lubricate the Wearing surfaces of faces 353, 363', and at the same time provide an effective air-tight oil seal for the vacuum system.

As seen in Figure 29, a collar 377 is mounted on shaft 158. Anchored between collar 377 and the hub portion 3'78 of cylinder 360 is a compressed spring 3'79 which acts to urge the respective faces 358, 363, of plate 356 and cylinder 360 close togther.

Each hub opening 355a, as seen in Figures 1 and 4, is connected to its respective folding station by means of a header pipe 330 having branches 331, 332., 383, which are respectively connected to the nozzles l75175, and 33. A cutoff valve 334is provided in each header 383. A protruding pivotal handle 335 is supplied on each valve to control its operation. An adjustable stop 386 (Figures 4 and 37) is mounted on support leg 342 at a point where it is engageable with the valve handles 385 as they pass thereby to effect valve opening. As the stations are traveling clockwise, as seen in Figure 4, and the valve handles 385 are in closed position, as shown by the dotted lines, stop arm 337 is positioned to intercept the travel of the handles and move them to open their respective valves. By turning handle 388 and rocking rod 389, arm 387 may be moved to its inoperative position whereat it will not engage the valve handle 335. Rod 389 is supported in a U-shaped frame 390 which is welded to support leg 342. A compressed spring 391 is anchored 1.6 r around rod 389 and between one leg of the frame and a collar 392 attached to rod 389.

When the apparatus is first being started, and no blanks are carried by the stations, all valves 384 are closed, with the exception of the valve leading to the station first to pass the cutter apparatus C. This assures that vacuum will not be applied to stations not carrying blanks. Hence, as the first station picks up its paper and its distributor plate opening 357 moves from before vacuum chamber 364 to chamber 365, sufficient vacuum will be supplied by chamber 365 to hold the paper to the station. On the other hand, if the vacuum was supplied to the other stations and they held no paper, the vacuum to the first station ordinarily would not be suflicient to retain the paper thereon. As succeeding stations move, their valve handles 385 pass an engage arm 387 which moves the handles to open position so that vacuum may be supplied to the stations in readiness when they pass cutter apparatus C and pick up their respective supply of paper.

Hanger take-o]? station Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 38, fixed adjacent to the path of travel of the stations is a hook shaped catch 393 which is adapted to intercept each hanger support book as the hangers are pivoted about their lower bars by the return movement of the folders 171. The covered hangers thus are pulled from the stations by the relative travel of the stations from the deposited hangers. Catch 393 is connected to a downwardly directed rod 394 leading to a rotatable shaft 395 having a continuous spiral groove 396 for directing the covered hangers away from the wrapping apparatus. Grooved shaft 395 is supported by and extends between paired legs 397397 on the frame bed, and is held sufiiciently thereabove as to allow the hangers to clear the paper feed apparatus.

Rod 395 at its remote end carries a sprocket wheel 393 which is connected by a chain 399 to a sprocket wheel 4th) on a rotatable shaft 401 supported in bracket 462 held on frame member 403. Shaft 401 is driven by a transverse shaft 404 through a right angle gear box 405.

Positioned adjacent to rod 394 is a hanger counter apparatus, generally indicated at 406, which is adapted to group the hangers in groups of fifty in readiness for shipping. The counter apparatus comprises a spring biased stop bar 437 mounted for reciprocable motion in a U- shaped bracket 403 mounted on crossarm 409. Bar 407 carries a stud 41%) to which a lever 411 is connected at its slotted end 412. Lever 411 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 413 driven by speed reducer unit 414 which, in turn, is driven by shaft 434. The speed reducer unit 414 is so set that for each fifty revolutions of shaft 464, crank arm 413 makes one complete revolution; although, it is understood, of course, that other ratios, depending upon the number of hangers it is desired to have in a group, may be used.

Stop bar 467 and lever 411 and its slotted end are so designed that while shaft 404 makes forty revolutions, the crank arm 413, through lever 411, maintains stop bar 437 spaced from rod 394. This enables the covered hangers to travel down rod 394 and directly to rotatable shaft 395. During the other ten revolutions of shaft 404, crank arm 413 allows stop bar 437 to rest directly on rod 394 to thus arrest the travel of hangers thereon until the bar is again raised, after which the arrested hangers and the succeeding hangers are free to travel to shaft 395. Thus, the covered hangers on shaft 395 are col-.

lected and fed along in groups of fifty with spaced intervals between the various groups. The counted covered hangers then may be removed from shaft 395 and packed for shipping.

Operation For each complete revolution of the shaft 158 which 17 carries the stations, the apparatus turns out that number of covered hangers that there are stations, or, as in the herein described embodiment, ten covered hangers are produced for each complete revolution of shaft 158. To achieve this result, jackshaft 59 is driven by motor 58 through its sprocket, wheel 415 and drives shaft 158 through a sprocket wheel 416, lchain 417 and large sprocket wheel 418 keyed to shaft 158, with the tooth ratio between wheels 416, 418, being one-to-ten. Thus, jackshaft 59 makes ten complete revloutions for each revolution of shaft 158.

Further, to achieve ten covered hangers for each revolution of shaft 158, it is necessary to synchronize the glue applicator apparatus, hanger feed apparatus, and hanger take-E station by coupling them to jackshaft 59 in such a manner as to have them complete one cycle of operation for each revolution of jackshaft 59. The glue applicator is so coupled to the jackshaft through sprocket 281, chain 282, and jackshaft sprocket wheel 417a, the sprocket wheels 281, 417, being similar in size.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 38, drive to the hanger feed and take-off apparatus is supplied through jackshaft sprocket wheel 418a, which turns auxiliary shaft 419, rotatably mounted to the vertical legs 397, through chain 420 and at sprocket wheel 421 similar in size to wheel 418. At the far end of shaft 419, a right angle gear box 422 transmits power to the hanger take-offdrive shaft 404 through shaft 423 and gear box 424. A second shaft 425 extends from gear box 422 towards the hanger feed apparatus. Driving power to the hanger feed conveyer 319 isprovided through transverse shaft 426, to which the sprocket wheels 324 are mounted, by a right angle gear box 427, which further supplies power to turn hanger support rod 309 through shaft 428, gear box 429, and sprocket wheel 430 which turns wheel 310 by means of a connecting sprocket chain 431.

Since the drive ratio between jackshaft 59 and the various stations is one-to-one, for each revolution of jackshaft 59, the roller 250 and the glue applicator pads make one complete turn to apply glue to one cover blank, rod 309 makes one revolution to meter out one hanger through its feed screw 314, conveyor 319 travels sufliciently to feed one hanger to the stations, and shaft 404 makes one revolution to record one covered hanger at the counter mechanism 406 and to further turn spirally grooved shaft 395.

As best seen in Figure 1, a cam 432 also is provided on jackshaft 59 to control the operation of the paper feed brake solenoid 128. As jackshaft 59 turns, the cam alternately engages and disengages an arm 433 of switch 434, mounted on the frame bed, alternately to close and open the necessary electrical circuiting to energize and deenergize solenoid 128. Cam 432 is so designed as to i E, a hanger is fed by conveyor 319 over stripper, plate engage switch arm 433 to energize solenoid 128 only during that period of time when it is desired to prevent paper feed. At the other times, switch 434 remains open to allow the paper to be pulled over table 119.

A complete cycle of station operation is as follows. As the station nears the cutter station D, switch arm 433 becomes disengaged from cam 432, allowing switch 434 to break the electrical circuiting with paper brake solenoid 128. At the same time, the particular opening 357 in vacuum distributor plate 356, leading to the station, becomes aligned with vacuum chamber 364, allowing a vacuum to be applied to the station. The paper thus is pulled to the station which carries it past cutter roller 213 to form the hanger cover blank 225. After the blank has been cut, jackshaft 59 has rotated sufficiently to allow the cam to again close switch 434 through its arm 433 until the next succeeding station has traveled to a position where it may pick up paper.

The paper blank 225 next'travels past the glue applicator station where glueis applied to areas 256, 257, 258, 259. As the station nears the hanger feed apparatus 334. Thehanger lower bar is picked up by the station magnets 208a-208a, and the hanger is lifted from the stripper plate, while its shoulder portions swing about the lower bar until they rest on the portion of blank 225 on casting elevated portion 163. At this point the station cant followers 348, 353, engage cam plate surfaces 340, 339, respectively, to cause the folders 193193, and 171 to fold the cover blank over the hanger shoulder bars and lower bar. As seen in Figures 15' and 16, the folders 171, 193-193, in their respective inoperative positions, are substantially level with the face of elevated portion 163. As the folders pivot up and over the hanger sides, however, they act to center the hanger with respect to its cover blank, if the magnets 208a-208a do not hold the hanger accurately thereon. The obliquely positioned folders 193-193 first act against the hanger shoulder bars to center the hanger, on the cover blank, and thereafter the relatively timed folder 171, as it pivots, acts against the hanger lower bar to correctly position the hanger whereby its three sides substantially coincide with the sides of cover blank triangular body portion 225:). While the station. magnets 208a--208a hold the hanger thereto, the hanger still is permitted. to move relative to the magnets for proper positioning by the action of the folders 171, 193-193. The continued movement of the folders, of course, to their respective closed positions, as shown by the phantom lines in Figures 15 and 16, folds the cover blank body portion 225a and foldable portions 2250, 225d over the hanger sides and presses. them to the areasof glue to secure the cover on the hanger.

As the folder 171 starts its return movement, the vacuum distributor plate hole 357 passes the end 374 of vacuum chamber 365', and vacuum no longer is applied to the station. This allows folder 171 and its magnet 208b to swing the covered hanger about its lower bar until the hanger hook engages catch 393 which holds the hanger as the station continues its travel. Once free of the station and magnets 208a--208a, the covered hanger travels down rod 394. The station, in the meanwhile continues its travel towards the paper feed platen assembly to pick up its next supply of paper.

' This action is repeated at each station, so that ten covered hangers are produced for each revolution of shaft 158.

By way of illustrating the advantages of the herein described machine, the apparatus allows considerable savings, both by increasing machine productivity and by eliminating the hand labor previously required. Using the mechanisms and methods preceding the instant invention, separate and additional machinery wasrequired to form the hanger cover blanks, and more often than not hand labor was required to enfold the hangers in the covers. Advantageously, the new apparatus, with shaft 158 turning at only ten revolutions per minute, can produce 6,000 wrapped hangers per hour while requiring the attention of no more than one attendant who takes care of the paper supply roll, supplies hangers to rod 309, and removes the covered hangers from rod 395. On an eight hour a day basis, 48,000 covered hangers may be produced while expending merely eight man hours of work. Even at the comparatively low rate of ten revolutions per minute by shaft 158, the great savings made possible by the present invention are manifest.

The apparatus also is capable of receiving its paper feed from a synchronized rotary printing press, which imprints desired advertising matter on the paper in preparation of the paper being wrapped over the hangers.

It is to be distinctly understood that the apparatus shown and described herein is a preferred embodiment which has been given by way of example only, and that various changes and rearrangements of the details shown may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. 

